Floatable pump

ABSTRACT

A float supports a centrifugal pump driven by an internal combustion engine. A carrier handle is provided on one side of the float, and a top supporting handle permits the device to be lowered into the water on a horizontal plane with the motor running when desired. Skids extend beneath the level of the float to protect the float if the pump is dragged along the ground.

United States Patent Inventors Louis B. Evans Hastings; Harold A. Berglund, Afton, both of Minn. Appl. No. 841,953 Filed July 15,1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Assignee Waterous Company St. Paul, Minn.

FLOATABLE PUMP 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 417/61, 4 l 7/ 3 64 Int. Cl ..F04b 21/00, F04b 17/00 Field oi Search 417/61,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,397,647 8/1968 Daniel.... 103/87 3,400,664 9/1968 Kingsep 415/7 Primary ExaminerRobert M. Walker Attorney-Robert M. Dunning ABSTRACT: A float supports a centrifugal pump driven by an internal combustion engine. A carrier handle is provided on one side of the float, and a top supporting handle permits the device to be lowered into the water on a horizontal plane with the motor running when desired. Skids extend beneath the level of the float to protect the float if the pump is dragged along the ground.

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m6 RN Rm m m m Q Q Q Q FLOATABLE PUMP CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION The present invention is designed as an improvement in a previous filed application for patent for Floating Pump which was filed Dec. 6, I967, Ser. No. 695,451 now U.S. Pat. No.,

3,470,822. The present device is designed for the purpose of simplifying the assembly of a pump of this type, and to add certain features not present in the original application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Considerable difficulty is often experienced in the use of conventional firefighting equipment in areas not supplied by water mains and hydrants. Fire pumps are mounted upon trucks and are capable of delivering a tremendous volume of water to hose lines in the event hydrants are available. However, when hydrants are not available, it is necessary for the trucks to run intake hoses into a lake, pond, river, or other body of water. It is not always possible for the pump trucks to move close enough to the water supplyto run suction lines into the water due to the fact that the area surrounding the body of water is often soft or swampy. Thus valuable time is often wasted in connecting the pump with a suitable water supply.

In view of these facts, there is a definite need for pumping units which may be carried manually and floated on the surface of a, body of water. Such pumps require no suction hose, and are self-priming. They must possess certain definite characteristics. In the first place, the pumps must be sufficiently light in weight to be easily carried to the body of water. Secon ly, the motive power must be suflicient so' that the pump will deliver a high volume of water at a pressure sufficient to serve as firefighting equipment under normal operating conditions. It is also necessary that the drive engine be provided with a sufficient quantity of fuel topermit the pumps to operate without interruption for a relatively long period of time. It is also desirable that the pumps be able to draw liquid from the water supply untilthc supply is practically depleted.

While the pump has been described as a tire pump, it obviously has many other uses. For example, the pump has been found. extremely useful in pumpingthe water from excavations after afrain. The high capacity of thepumppermits an excavation to be emptied in a. short period of time, and the construction is such that the pump is capable of removing. virtually all of the water from the excavation when the pump is positioned in the lowest part of the excavation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a floatable pump which includes an elongated ring-shaped float which supports an apertured mounting plate. A centrifugal pump and a drive engine are mounted upon this plate within the ring-shaped float. The engine is preferably of the air-cooled type sothat the engine may be-started before the float is placed upon, the water.

It is a feature of the; present invention that the speed of theengine is automatically controlled by control float secured to the throttle of the engine. When the pump is not in the water, the engine will operate at idling speed. However, as soon as the pumpis placed upon the-surface of they water, the engine speed-is automatically increased to operate the. pump.

Anobject of the present'inven'tion resides in the provisionof a device of the type described which is relatively simple to assemble. In, the previous structure which was referred to above, the pump assembly was clamped to the underside of the supporting blade with the same bolts used to hold the pump assemblytogether. Furthermore, it was necessary that the upper volute of the pump be attached to the mounting plate before it was assembled to the engine. In the present construction, the entire pump assembly, except for the inlet screen, can be assembled with the engine and subsequently fastened to the supporting plate.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an inlet screen supported by the mounting plate beneath the inlet of the pump. The screenis generally channel-shaped in form and extends from one side to the other of the float. The screen is held in place by bolts which extend through spacers to eliminate strain upon the screen.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a pair of skids which are supported beneath the screen, and which extend below the level of any part of the float. These skids assist in protecting the screen, and also assist in protecting the float in the event the pump is pulled along a rough surface such as a sandy or rocky shoreline.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the floatable pump, showing the float and mounting plate in section.

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail through a portion of the pump discharge.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus, parts thereof being shown in section.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of one of the supporting skids. I

FIG. Sis a perspective view of the upper side of one of the supporting skids.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the float and mounting plate.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the floatable pump.

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In general, the floatable pump A, and elongated ring-shaped float 10 which supports a flat mounting plate 11. A centrifugal pump 12 is supported by the plate 11, and an internal combustion engine 13 is mounted upon the pump. A gasoline tank 14 is also mounted upon the mounting plate to supply fuel to the engine 13.

vThe. float 10 is generally an oral ring-shaped member having spaced longitudinally extending sides 15, a transversely extending, forward end 16, and a transversely extending. rear end 17. The terms front and rear are merely used as relative terms. If the device were placed in the water without discharge hose connected to it, the discharge from the pump would propel the float with the end 16 foremost. On the other hand, if the pump is dragged along the sand or in the water by the discharge hose, the end 17 wouldbe foremost.

The mounting plate 11 has its longitudinal edges 19 embedded in the sides 15, and its ends 20 and 21 embedded in or lying adjacent the front and rear ends 16 and I7 of the float. As may be seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the undersurfaees of the ends 16 and 17 are longitudinally grooved to expose portions of the ends 20 and 21 of the mounting plate 11'. The mounting plate 11 is provided with an aperture 22 through which a portion of the housing of the pump 12 extends. The mounting plate 11 also includes suitably positioned boltholes 23Jdesigned to accommodate bolts used to'hold the pump and engine in position upon the plate.

The pump is constructed as. is best illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings in which one side of the pump is shown in section. The body of the pump includes a lower volute section 24 and an upper'volute section 25 which define a pump chamber in which the impeller 26 may rotate and which define a volute chamber 27 of conventional form. The impeller 26 is supported upon an engine shaft 29 and held in place by a nut I8 or other, suitable means. The volute chamber 27 communicates with a. downwardly extending discharge passage 28 formed in the lower volute section 24 (see FIG. 2). The passage turns at right angles to provide a discharge opening 30 which extends in a rearward direction from the pump. As is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 7, the outlet member 30 is connected to a rearwardly extending nipple 31 leading to a suitable discharge nozzle 32 which can be connected to a flexible hose or the like by suitable coupling means.

The lower volute section 24 is provided with a downwardly projecting sleeve or flange 33 which forms the suction eye of the pump and into which a flange 34 of the impeller 26 extends with a running fit. An outer peripheral flange 35 extends downwardly through the mounting plate aperture 22 to properly locate the pump with respect to the mounting plate. As is indicated in FIG. 3, the upper and lower volute sections are held in proper alignment by locating pins 36 prior to the mounting of the pump upon the mounting plate 11. The pump 12 is anchored to the mounting plate by bolts 38 as indicated in FIG. I.

The upper volute section 25 is provided with an upwardly extending central boss 37 which is axially apertured to accommodate the engine drive shaft 29. Suitable sealing means 39 are provided between the periphery of the shaft 29 and the aperture 40 through the boss 37. The engine 13 is attached to the boss 37 by bolts 41 or other suitable fastening means.

As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings, one side of the float 15 is provided with a vertical substantially cylindrical aperture 42 extending therethrough for a purpose which will be described. A generally channel-shaped screen 43 is provided beneath the suction eye of the impeller 26. As is indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the screen includes a substantially horizontal bottom portion 44, and generally parallel vertical front and rear ends 45 and 46 which extend between one side of the float and the other. As is indicated in FIG. 7 of the drawings, one end 47 of the screen is extended beneath the aperture 42. A pair of skids 49 are used to clamp the screen 43 in place. As indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, elongated studs 50 extend upwardly through the lower volute section 24 and upper volute section 25, extending through upwardly extending bosses 51 on the upper volute section. Spacers 52 encircle the lower portions of the studs 50. The bottom panel 44 of the screen 43 extends beneath the spacers 52. The lower ends of the studs 50 extend into the sockets 53 in the undersurfaces of the skids 49. Nuts 54 and 55 on the upper and lower ends of the studs 50 hold the various parts assembled.

As indicated in FIGS. 4 and of the drawings, the skids 49 are preferably hollow boxlike members having a generally rectangular bottom panel 56 and peripheral flanges 57 extending upwardly from the side and ends thereof. The sockets 53 are, in effect, hollow bosses 59 extending upwardly from the bottom panel 56, the upper ends of which are apertured as indicated at 60 to accommodate the studs 50.

The sides 15 of the float are preferable shaped in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8 of the drawings. The sides include flat bottom portions 61 adjoining the central opening or inner surface of the sides. From the flat bottom portion 61 the float sides 15 slope upwardly and outwardly to provide a slightly upwardly inclined portion 62 and then the float sides taper upwardly at an increased angle as indicated at 63 to approximately the waterline 64. The upper portions of the float sides include vertical portions 65 and then upwardly and inwardly sloped upper portions 66 which extend to the inner edges of the sides.

As indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the center portions of the front and rear ends of the float body are grooved beneath the mounting plate 11, the groove in the front end admitting water beneath the float, and the groove at the rear end accommodating the pipe nipple 31. The inner surface of the front wall 16 0f the float is also grooved as indicated at 69 to accommodate the exhaust manifold 70, exhaust pipe 71, and muffler 72.

The gasoline tank 14 is held in place by one or more brackets or fuel tank straps 73. The strap 73 includes a bottom portion 74 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the mounting plate 11, a vertical side 68, and a curved upper end 75 extending over the similarly curved upper end of the tank 14, the curved top terminating at an out turned ear 76. The bottom portion 74 of the strap includes a second side 77 extending upwardly toward the upper portion 75 and terminating in an outwardly turned car 79 parallel to, and spaced from, the ear 76. The ends of the strap 73 are clamped together by a clamping bolt 80 for holding the tank 14 in position. The tank 14 is connected to the engine B by a gas line 78. The engine 13 is provided with a starter unit, 81 at its upper end. A handle 82 is provided straddling the starter unit 81. The handle 82 includes a pair of upright posts 83 on opposite sides of the starter unit 81, and an upwardly curved crossmember 84 connecting the post. The posts 83 are firmly connected to the engine, and may be used for lifting the entire unit. For example, if the unit is to be lowered onto the water from a dock or bridge, a rope may be secured to the handle 82 and the unit may be lowered onto the water after the engine has been started.

As in the previous construction, the speed of the engine is controlled by rotation of a shaft 85 extending into the engine carburator 86. A lever 87 is secured to the shaft 85 and is pivotally connected to the upper end of a link 89 having a cylindrical float 90 at its lower end. The float 90 slides vertically freely in the cylindrical aperture 42 in the float body. When the float 90 is in the position indicated in full lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the engine is rotated at idling Speed. However, when the float is dropped unto the surface of the water, the water lifts the float 90, swinging the arm 87 into the position indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 3. This increases the speed of the engine in order to drive the pump at the proper rate of speed. As soon as the float is lifted from the water, the engine speed again automatically returns to idlying.

As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 6, a notch is provided in the outer edge of one float side and is spanned by a handle 91 by means of which the device may be carried when not in use.

Iclaim:

l. A floatable pump including:

a float having opposite sides,

a support plate supportedbetween said sides and beneath the water level,

a centrifugal pump supported upon said support plate and having a suction eye extending through said support plate,

an engine supported above said pump and connected thereto for driving the same,

a screen supported beneath said suction eye including a bottom portion extending between said float sides on a plane above the level of the lower surfaces of said float sides, and said screen including sides extending upwardly to said support plate.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including a series of struts extending downwardly from said pump for supporting said screen.

3. A floatable pump includes:

a float having opposite sides,

a support plate supported between said sides and beneath the water level,

a centrifugal pump supported upon said support plate and having a suction eye extending through said support plate,

an engine supported above said pump and connected thereto for driving the same,

a plurality of struts extending downwardly from said pump,

and

a screen supported by said struts which is spaced below said support plate and which is above the level of the lower surfaces of said float sides and through which water must flow to reach said suction eye.

4. The structure of claim 3 and in which said struts include threaded upper and lower ends and spacer means between said threaded upper and lower ends, and including fastening means on the lower threaded ends beneath said screen, the upper threaded ends engaging said pump.

5. The structure of claim 3 and including a pair of skids supported by said struts beneath said screen in parallel relation.

6. The structure of claim 4 and including a pair of skids supported by said struts beneath said screen in parallel relation, and in which said fastening means on the threaded lower ends of said studs hold said skids in place.

7. A floatable pump including:

a float having opposite sides,

a support plate supported between said sides and beneath the water level,

a centrifugal pump supported upon said support plate and having a suction eye extending through said support plate,

an engine supported above said pump and connected thereto for driving the same,

two pairs of laterally spaced longitudinally aligned struts extending downwardly from said pump, and a pair of paralpair of upper and lower volute sections in face contact to provide a volute chamber therebetween, and in which said struts include studs having upper ends extending through said volute sections, spacer means between the lower volute section and said skids, and means at the ends of said studs for holding the structure assembled. 

1. A floatable pump including: a float having opposite sides, a support plate supported between said sides and beneath the water level, a centrifugal pump supported upon said support plate and having a suction eye extending through said support plate, an engine supported above said pump and connected thereto for driving the same, a screen supported beneath said suction eye including a bottom portion extending between said float sides on a plane above the level of the lower surfaces of said float sides, and said screen including sides extending upwardly to said support plate.
 2. The structure of claim 1 and including a series of struts extending downwardly from said pump for supporting said screen.
 3. A floatable pump includes: a float having opposite sides, a support plate supported between said sides and beneath the water level, a centrifugal pump supported upon said support plate and having a suction eye extending through said support plate, an engine supported above said pump and connected thereto for driving the same, a plurality of struts extending downwardly from said pump, and a screen supported by said struts which is spaced below said support plate and which is above the level of the lower surfaces of said float sides and through which water must flow to reach said suction eye.
 4. The structure of claim 3 and in which said struts include threaded upper and lower ends and spacer means between said threaded upper and lower ends, and including fastening means on the lower threaded ends beneath said screen, the upper threaded ends engaging said pump.
 5. The structure of claim 3 and including a pair of skids supported by said struts beneath said screen in parallel relation.
 6. The structure of claim 4 and including a pair of skids supported by said struts beneath said screen in parallel relation, and in which said fastening means on the threaded lower ends of said studs hold said skids in place.
 7. A floatable pump including: a float having opposite sides, a support plate supported between said sides and beneath the water level, a centrifugal pump supported upon said support plate and having a suction eye extending through said support plate, an engine supported above said pump and connected thereto for driving the same, two pairs of laterally spaced longitudinally aligned struts extending downwardly from said pump, and a pair of parallel skids supported by said struts to extend beneath the level of said float.
 8. The structure of claim 7 and in which said struts extend downwardly from said pump, said studs including spacer means between said skids and said pump, and means securing said skids to said struts.
 9. The structure of claim 7 and in which pump includes a pair of upper and lower volute sections in face contact to provide a volute chamber therebetween, and in which said struts include studs having upper ends extending through said volute sections, spacer means between the lower volute section and said skids, and means at the ends of said studs for holding the structure assembled. 